- Text Size +
Bittersweet
Revenge



Part One


Even though I knew it was all an elbaborate ruse, I couldn’t
tear myself
away from how real it looked. The flatline, the long steady beep, the
solemn
faces. I knew Nick was breathing, but I had to reassure myself of it
over and
over. If I reacted this strong when it was a show, I’d hate to guess
how it
would be if, God forbid, it ever really happened.


Then Howie and AJ came in. They’re reactions, seeing them break down
like
that, was almost ovewhelming. I started to say something to them, but
Brian put
a hand on my arm. He shook his head slightly and I nodded in
acknowledgement. He
was the one with the plan.


I studied him closely and determined that he wasn’t having any
easier of a
time with this than I was. He was ghostly pale, shaking, and still
crying. If
there was one thing that made my heart ache, it was men that were
crying. Now, I
was in a surrounded by them with one of my closest friends on his way
to the
morgue. Yeah, I was definitely struggling with this.


Deizel left the room for a moment out of respect, along with the
rest of the
nurses and the doctor that were involved. I glanced nervously at Brian,
then
Kevin. If Howie and AJ saw Nick up close, they would know he was still
alive.
Who knew what would happen then? It could blow the whole thing. Howie
would
probably be able to be a little more discreet, but I could see AJ
flipping out.
I needn’t have worried about that though. AJ pulled himself to his feet
and
attempted to go over to Nick. He took one look, choked back a sob, and
bolted
from the room. Howie cast a pained glance towards Nick, then us, before
running
after AJ.


“Shit.” Murmured Kevin. He looked at Brian and I. “We should leave
so they
can take him when they get here.” He said, not wanting to say morgue.


Help...me...over.” Brian whispered. I frowned at Kevin,
thinking
Brian really needed to lay down. Kevin acknowledged me look and set his
hand on
Bri’s shoulder.


No! I...need...to!” Brian insisted as forcefully as he
could. I knew
why too. With this scheme, who knew when he was going to be able to see
Nick
again anytime soon.


Kevin supported Brian over to Nick’s bedside. Brian reached a hand
up and
gently brushed Nick’s hair away from where it had fallen in his eyes.
It was
considerably longer than when I had first met him. But, then, mine was
too.
Brian didn’t say anything, but I could see his shoulders shaking. Then
Deizel
appeared in the doorway with a wheelchair. Kevin helped Brian into it.
Behind
Deizel were two men in white lab coats. They were there for Nick.


“No.” I whispered. I wasn’t ready. I needed to be with him to make
sure he
was going to be okay. I shakily went over to the side of the bed and
wrapped my
arms around him. I felt a hand on my shoulder.


“Come on, Lizz. It’s time.” Deizel said softly.


I took Nick’s hand and squeezed it tight. Before I pulled away, I
whispered
in his ear, “It’s going to be okay Nick. I know you can hear me in
there. Keep
fighting and dont be scared, you’re safe now. I’ll see you as soon as I
can.
Hang in there. Love you.”


Deizel led me out of the room over to Kevin and Brian. I rested my
hand on
the handle of Brian’s wheelchair, steadying myself. I wasn’t prepared
to see the
men wheel Nick’s bed out of his room, a sheet draped over it. Over him.
It
wasn’t the first time I had seen that and it was hard. I couldn’t help
but break
down once again. I shielded my eyes with my hand, trying to stifle the
sobs.
Brian reached his hand up and layed it over mine.


We’re...going to...get through...this...Lizz.” Brian’s words
were
strong, but I was still scared. It was all so real and so much was at
stake. We
didn’t know the extent of the damage Marcus inflicted on Nick and
whether he, or
his voice, would be okay. He had to be okay, I needed him to be. Who
was going
to keep me in line or get into trouble with me? Who else was going to
be there
for me like he was? I had to believe he was going to be okay, because
frankly, I
couldn’t take it any other way.



Marcus watched the scene from the tiny closet, barely able to
contain his
excitement. Only moments after entering Carter’s room, the tattooed one
tore
open the drapes and Marcus heard him cry out like an animal, falling to
his
knees. Seconds later he tore out of the room, followed by the other
one. Next, a
doctor walked out, face grim. Then a nurse, also visibly upset and
shaken.
Marcus felt his grin widen. Then it looked Brian and Lizz were saying
their
tearful goodbyes. “Boo-fucking-hoo.” He muttered under his breath. The
best part
came when two men pulled a sheet over Carter’s bed and wheeled his body
out of
the room. Marcus was elated. He discarded his previous thought to leave
and
“disappear” for awhile and decided to hang around and relish in
everyone’s
misery. Especially Brian and Lizz’s. “Finally they got what they
deserved.” He
smirked to himself.




~*~*~*~
No words were exchanged by the two
male
orderlies as they guided the cart carrying Nick down the halls towards
the
“staff only” elevators. They were told the prioriety of the situation
and that
they were under strict orders to do only as told to do. If they
complied, they
would be benefited with payment of a bonus. The elevator car
stopped.
There was already a patient cart on board, a body that was also draped
with a
plain white sheet. When the doors closed, the orderlies switched places
and the
ones that were taking Nick were now in charge of a newly deceased
patient.
As instructed, one of the men punched the button to take them
up to the
10th floor. When the elevator stopped on 10, the new orderly took the
cart
carrying Nick and pushed it off the elevator and down the hall towards
the
nurse’s station desk.
~*~*~*~*~
As soon as Marcus witnessed Nick’s
friends as
well as his sheet covered body leave the ICU room, he quickly left the
security
of the closet where he had been hiding and took the stairs to the
basement
floor, towards the morgue. He could feel the rush of adrenaline
when he
saw the elevator doors open and then the two orderlies pushing the cart
down the
hall into the cold and dimly lit morgue. A sick smile played across his
lips.
His plan was coming into place, his mother would be proud of the
revenge he had
finally delivered.
~*~*~*~
The remainder of the group gathered in
Brian’s
room. No one spoke as Deizel helped Brian out of the wheelchair back
into his
bed. “Has anyone called Bob and Jane?” Howie asked, his voice
thick with
emotion. “I’ll be taking care of that,” Kevin quickly replied
as he
helped Brian straighten the blankets out on the bed. “It’s all
too real,
this is a sick dream,” Lizz said softly, tears still slipping down her
cheeks.
“The FBI aren’t doing a damn thing about any of this Marcus
bullshit
from day one. I’m taking the matter into my hands now! I’ll cap the
asshole,” AJ
sputtered through his tears. Brian shot a look at AJ which was
intercepted by Howie. “AJ, calm down, this isn’t the time or
place man,”
Howie quietly reprimanded. AJ jumped up from his seat and
immediately
started to pace the floor. “This isn’t right, my god, can’t you guys
see this?
He killed....him,” AJ stammered, not willing to say the name
‘Nick’ “and
now, as far as I’m concerned, the asshole needs to pay and I’m gonna
make sure
he pays out quickly.” The phone ringing stopped AJ during his
rambling.
Kevin scooped the phone off the hook. “Yeah,” he grunted into
the phone.
“I see Carter didn’t make it,” Marcus began. Kevin felt
chills
go down his spine as he listened to Marcus’s voice on the receiver.
“I
don’t trust any of you asses, so here’s what I need now. I need proof
that he’s
dead.” Kevin’s eyes narrowed as he listened to the madman’s
ravings.
“Proof? How do you suggest I go about that?” “I want to see the
body at
the funeral home, in his box,” Marcus replied. Kevin
immediately felt
sick to his stomach. “Don’t you think it would be a little difficult
since this
will no doubt be a private viewing!” “Just do it or I start
making some
selections on my next victim,” Marcus replied sweetly. “I will be
calling
tomorrow to get the details on the funeral home. Remember, no funny
stuff or I
take a fan or two out.” Kevin didn’t bother saying goodbye, he
quickly
slammed the receiver back down on the cradle. Brian looked up at his
older
cousin questionably. Before Kevin could tell anyone what the
phone call
was about, the phone rang again. “Yeah,” Kevin stated crisply
into the
phone. “Why? How did this happen?” a voice sobbed on the other
end of
the phone. It took Kevin a few minutes to soothe one of the PR
managers
for the group. They ended the call with setting up a time for a mini
conference
to address the details about Nick’s death and to make sure it was
handled well
in the media. “Conference thursday afternoon at 4,” Kevin said
as he
gently hung the phone up.
~*~*~*~*~
Nurse Georgia Shell immediately grew
nervous
when she saw the cart coming down the hall. She knew that this was that
patient
that she had received a call about and that she was totally in charge
of keeping
the identity secret and that she would be compensated for her actions.
“Room 430 please,” she requested as she gathered up the
materials she
would need to make the changes for Nick, switching his identity in the
hospital
from Carter, Nickolas G to Carpenter, Jack A. The orderlies
quickly took
Nick down the the room and lowered the side rails and moved the patient
from the
cart to his new assigned bed. Wordlessly, Nurse Shell pulled out her
scissors
and snipped off the pale green hospital ID bracelet and quickly slipped
the new
one on Nick’s wrist. She placed some other identifying information into
a heavy
brown folder and handed over to one of the men. “Incenerate
this
immediately.” Hooking up all the machines to the patient and
stepping
back to recheck every lead, every wire, Nurse Shell decided that
everything was
now in order. The patient was breathing at 94% with oxygen. He looked
stable for
the moment.